And now for my next knife project.......

[Fletching]

Looking good there Mike! I like the jig idea.

Steve

[CanadianMike]

Thanks Steve, it works great! Still working out the fine details in using it though,minute variations in how your place the blade show in the bevel. Also left and right show slight differences.

[CanadianMike]

Handle is on and in the middle of much sanding........



Noticed after not only is the rear pin higher than the front, it's also turned out of phase with the front one as far as the brass and aluminum rods in the mosaic pins go. Oh well.

[jbrown14]

Wow, Mike. That is beautiful!
What kind of wood is that, Spalted Maple?

I'm going to copy your jig idea sometime soon. I've been trying to come up with some way of getting a consistent, flat grind without free-handing things on my belt sander, and I love the large flat control surface to hold onto.

Josh

[CanadianMike]

Thanks Josh, it works well enough to be simple, yet takes skill to use it right. Still, it eliminates a lot of problems with doing things simply by hand. And yes, is spalted maple.

[CanadianMike]

Wood hardener applied after final shaping, looking great so far (and feels really good to hold too).

[JEEP]

Beautiful piece of work

That handle is a real beauty.

[CanadianMike]

Thank ya sir! I think I'm finished the handle now, just put that one coat of wood hardener on it (the scales once cut out I let soak for a couple hours in the hardener, but not sure how much sunk in), sanded it down lightly to get rid of the gloss, then last night I buffed it up with carnauba wax on my flannel wheel, the yellowness has mostly gone and is back to a more natural cream colour and very smooth/hard feeling. Next I'll have to focus on sanding the blade and bevel up to 2000 grit, then sharpen it, and finally a sheath. Think I'll make a Woodlore style so I can make a shoulder strap for it.

[RobbC]

Thats some beautiful work! Im wanting to try and make my own knives, but havent gotten round to it yet, a little bit daunted by the amount of work involved. hope fully when i do get staeted i can get to the point when i am making knives as amazing as these!

Robb

[CanadianMike]

Lots of advice available to you around here for when you want it.

New pic.....